to move something that is not finished or used into a later period or time.
We didn’t finish the project today, so we’ll have to carry it over to next week.
A: Did you finish all your homework? B: No, I had too much, so I’ll carry some of it over to tomorrow.
If I don’t spend all my holiday days this year, my company lets me carry them over to the next year.
Common mistake
✗The holiday days carry over for the next year.
✓The holiday days carry over to next year.
'Carry over TO' a later period, not 'for'.
Tell it apart
Unused leave carries over to next year.
moves to a later time
The mood carried over into the next day.
an effect persisted — different sense
Use 'carry over' when talking about tasks, money, or plans that are moved to a future date because they are not finished or used up.'Carry on' means to continue doing something, while 'carry over' means to move something to a later time.
to cause an attitude, effect, or behaviour from one situation or context to persist or have an impact in another, often unrelated, context.
The stress he experienced at work often carried over into his personal life, affecting his relationships.
A: Why do you think the team's negativity is affecting the new project? B: I suspect some of the frustration from the last project has carried over.
It is important for teachers to ensure that positive classroom behaviours carry over into students' interactions outside of school.
Common mistake
✗Don't let work stress carry over your home life.
✓Don't let work stress carry over into your home life.
'Carry over INTO' another situation — don't drop 'into'.
Tell it apart
His bad mood carried over into the meeting.
followed him in and affected it
His bad mood wore off after lunch.
gradually faded
'Carry over' in this sense is used when something (such as a feeling, habit, or effect) unintentionally persists from one context or environment into another. It is common in both academic and professional discussions, especially in psychology, education, and business.Unlike the B2 sense, which refers to moving unfinished things to a later time, this sense is about the transfer of influence, behaviour, or effect from one context or situation to another, not just across time.